The US Embassy, in a bid to ensure a seamless Visa Application for Nigerians, has rolled out new directives for Visa Applicants in Nigeria. This new development recommends that Immigrant Visa applicants with interviews at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos MUST now visit the consulate twice during their visa application process. The development owes to the imminent need to make the visa application easier, faster and hitch free.
From the official press statement released by the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs, the new visa application guideline will ensure applicants are fully prepared for their visa interviews. The exercise will equally aid in preventing issues that could cause significant delays in the process.
In the first stage of the two-time visits, consulate staff are to notify Visa applicants on the dates for their visit. This is a compulsory visit that must be carried out for any Visa application to be successful. They two visits are for: Onsite Document Review and Visa Interview Visit.
Onsite Document Review Visit
This is a compulsory visit a Visa applicant must fulfil in order to proceed with their application. It is an in-person document review requirement which is the first visit. At this visit, a consular staff verifies that the applicant is prepared for their visa interview and ensure all necessary documents are readily available for the Visa application.
Additionally, this exercise is done first of all by notifying an applicant of the document review appointment date. The appointment will be scheduled about two to four weeks before their visa interview. Upon arrival of the applicant, the consular staff goes through the documents and verify that the holder of those documents are the actual person as well as confirm that all required documents are in place.
Visa Interview Visa
This is the second visit a Visa applicant makes to the US Embassy Consulate, Lagos. This is the official invitation for Visa Interview itself which is traditionally scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC). The necessary condition for Visa Interview appointment is the completion of the Document Review Visit. For a situation where the pre-visa interview document review isn’t completed, the visa interview appointment will be rescheduled until the first visit is a success.
The new directives equally has it that Visa interviews must be attended on the date and time provided by the NVC. This process is mandatory for applicants whose interviews are scheduled after January 1, 2025.
Tips for a Successful Document Review Visit and Visa Interview Visit
Just as it is said that proper preparation prevents poor performance, below are the list of actions you must take in your Visa application process to successfully pass your Document Review Visit and Visa Interview. They include:
1. Sign Up: Visa applicants are to sign up in the US Embassy. This is an online account opening process where you are to create an account on the consulate’s online system in order to provide information about you for returning their passport and documents after the interview. The account created equally serves the purpose of scheduling or rescheduling of visa interview appointment by The Consulate.
2. Medical Exam: Visa applicants must undergo medical exam at an accredited medical facility in Nigeria before the In-Person Document Review which should be scheduled at least two weeks before the document review so that the medical report will carry the most recent information about the health of the applicant.
3. Documents Review: Applicants must bring all required documents, including a checklist of necessary items, to both the In-Person Document Review and the visa interview. This activity helps to ensure that all necessary documents are in place before coming for an application interview.
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4. Interview Guidelines Review: Review of the whole Visa application process and guidelines is another very important aspect of the application process. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to review the interview guidelines to ensure they understand the process and any special requirements comprehensively.
5. Retrieving of Documents: The last of the whole Visa application exercise is picking up documents. After the visa interview, applicants must schedule a pickup appointment for their documents at a designated DHL office in either Lagos or Abuja.
Medical Exam Requirements
All immigrant visa applicants must complete a medical exam with an accredited physician. The exam will include a review of medical history, a physical exam, chest X-rays, and blood tests.
Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for all applicants over the age of two. Additionally, applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can undergo the medical exam. Applicants who are not fully vaccinated will not be able to complete the exam.
Required Documents for Visa Interview
The US Embassy has carefully listed the list of documents required for both the Documents Review Visit and Visa Interview. They include: Valid Passport, Birth Certificate, Medical Records, and Police Certificate for applicants over the age of 16 and other documents which may be required based on the visa type, such as proof of relationship for family-based visas or employment verification for employment-based visas amongst others.
What Happens Next After Documents Review Visit and Visa Interview Visit
Upon completion of the whole process of Immigrant Visa application at the US Embassy, the consular officer will make a decision on the visa application. If approved, applicants are notified immediately their visa is ready for pickup. By a way of recommendation, prospective travellers should confirm the status of their Visa application before make arrangements for travels. This is because it’s possible that one’s visa application must be either approved or rejected.
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Summarily, applicants and intending applicants should visit the US Embassy Consulate official webpage to get more information about the new immigrant visa application directives. Worthy of note is that the new directives applies to immigrant visa applicants, and applicants should follow the instructions provided by the U.S. Consulate.”
